ELIMINATION OF PROBLEM BEHAVIOR AT WORK THROUGH AN ASSESSMENT-BASED ANTECEDENT INTERVENTION

Maria, a 26-year-old young woman with severe retardation, worked in a sheltered workshop. About a month before the study began, Maria starte d urinating in her pants during each of the three regularly scheduled breaktimes that occurred each day. Maria wet herself only during break s and, according to her mother, never wet herself at home. Assessment and intervention involved a two-phase study. Phase I (functional asses sment) included structured interviews and observations, hypothesis dev elopment, and hypothesis testing within ongoing activities at work. Th is process identified that Maria's wetting was attention-motivated. Du ring Phase 2 (intervention), attention was provided frequently while M aria helped a staff member complete routine breaktime activities(e.g., setting up new tasks). This intervention completely eliminated Maria' s wetting. Furthermore, the effect occurred immediately, lasted for at least several months, and was easily incorporated into ongoing routin es within the workshop. Equally important, the intervention received v ery high treatment acceptability ratings from all three of the staff w ho were responsible for its implementation.